Paddison Program

I’ve just heard about the Paddison Program. Someone dubbed it as one of the "send me money and I'll tell you how to cure RA programmes" (1). If you look at Clint Paddison’s homepage you are given a sneak preview, but then you have to buy a pig in a poke.

Let’s look at “The 5 Essential Principles To Eliminating Rheumatoid Arthritis” of the program (2).

The first principle is an accusation, followed by a statement: “The truth is, RA [Rheumatoid Arthritis] symptoms can be dramatically eliminated using 100% natural strategies which address the underlying cause.” As the underlying cause is unknown, only another unproven hypothesis can follow. Let’s compare RA with an avalanche. It’s good to know the underlying cause, like people going over snowfields, not enough vegetation left because of winter sports etc.; but once the avalanche goes down, this knowledge is futile. Then it’s better to know, what to do, to keep the damage low.

The second principle: “Supplements such as Fish oil tablets or Glycosamine [correct: Glucosamine] Sulfate for joint pain are never going to reverse Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.” No, such supplements aren’t advocated by  rheumatolo-gists, though some research is done in South Australia on effects of fish oil on RA. “We’ll explore what type of approach REALLY works in just a moment.” I’m still trying to figure out what kind of therapeutic principle this could be.

The third principle is: “Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms are primarily caused by food sensitivities.” That’s another unproven hypothesis. What kind of food sensitivity? Any food sensitivity? What is triggered? Which mechanism? Which chemokine or cytokine is involved?

The fourth principle: “… the only way to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis is to eliminate the root cause which stems from undigested food particles getting into your blood stream.” Which food particles? What do these particles? At which concentrations? What do the cell studies (synovial tissue) say? Oh, of course there is no such study. These studies are done, before you come out with a hypothesis, at least in the scientific world.

In the fifth principle we are told: “RA is a chronic, debilitating disease and it took me years (and a lot of lost cartilage!) before I uncovered the solution that I have used to help people now in 49 countries worldwide.” Oh, so it is a chronic disease! I don’t see a therapeutic principle here.

Then we are given three steps to cure RA. Let’s have a closer look at step three. “To Treat RA Symptoms You Must Heal Your Digestive System”. We are told that bacteria play a role. Yes, the gut microbiota play a role, but “as of 2016 it was not clear if changes to the gut flora cause these auto-immune and inflammatory disorders or are a product of them or adaptation to them” (3). Next comes the Leaky Gut Syndrome. What an excellent name for a non-entity! “Leaky gut syndrome is a hypothetical, medically unrecognized condition” (4). Next is acidosis. “With RA, the degree of alkalization required is very significant.” Did you measure pH in arterial or capillary blood? No. “When we deplete our enzyme resources from drugs, taxing foods and stressful lifestyles the 'enzyme bank' needs to be restored.” Which enzymes weren’t produced? How much change before and after?

It is very understandable for people, who suffer from RA, to look for alternative solutions, but these often result in frustration. One of the problems with such programs is how long people stay on a diet or omit certain foods.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against a balanced diet helping to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Diets have a long history; have a look at chapter 1 of the book of the prophet Daniel in the Bible.

I won’t recommend the Paddison Program to my patients.

PS. Comments like “but the Paddison Program has helped me” will be considered as spam.

Links:

(1) https://healthunlocked.com/nras/posts/1180351/paddison-programme-anyone-tried-it

(2) http://www.rheumatoidarthritisprogram.com/

(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora

(4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaky_gut_syndrome